It ’s May and nippy nights are now a remote storage ! The garden centers are abuzz with muckle of exciting new works choices to try . Besides planting and transplanting , there ’s hatful of weed , dividing , and general sprucing up to be done in the ornamental garden .
With so many industrial plant choices usable to you at this time of yr , look for drought - tolerant selectionsthat will require less body of water once hot , humid mid - summer weather arrives . Some potential candidates let in black - eyed Susan ( Rudbeckia ) , blanket flower ( Gaillardia ) , butterfly weed ( Asclepias tuberosa ) , catmint ( Nepeta ) , goldenrod ( Solidago ) , Hyssopus officinalis ( Agastache ) , mountain mint ( Pycnanthemum muticum ) , purple coneflower ( Echinacea purpurea ) , sneezeweed ( Helenium ) , Stokes ’ aster ( Stokesia laevis ) , and yarrow ( Achillea millefolium ) . of import : Although these plants are drought tolerant , they require ample wet their first year while they are getting established .
With our last mediocre frost date behind us , it ’s now time todirect sow seeds of hotness - loving annualssuch as cosmos , marigolds , cleome , gomphrena , or zinnias . After the plants reach 4 to 6 in in height , pinch them back to further bushier growth . This will at long last produce more flowers .
Transplant bedding plantson a cool , calm , murky day . The cooler temperatures and cloud covering fire will cause less stress to the flora and will help them settle in sooner . Some vernacular fast - growing annual that are sell as bedding plants include genus Celosia , dusty miller , geranium , lantana , lobelia , petunias , portulaca , salvia , and begonia .
Plant tender bulbssuch as dahlias , gladioli , or cannas in full sun . If you do n’t have full sun ( at least 6 hours per sidereal day ) , try planting tincture - loving caladiums and tuberous begonias . For a tinge of drama , assay develop elephant ears in part - shade but give them plenty of room . Depending on the variety , they can grow in earnest Brobdingnagian !
Install supports for tight - growing plants that tend to flop . Secure tall flora such as delphiniums or foxgloves to a individual post using jute or other soft twine . For mound plant life such as peonies , use “ grow - through ” ring or grid - style supports .
Protect newly - planted seedling and transplantsfrom dry wind and hot sun for the first few calendar week while they establish strong base structures . Keep the grease around the fragile roots moist but not soggy . If the root ball dries out , the flora may not recover from the stress . Too much piddle is just as unsound for seedlings and transplants because soggy soil may cause their roots to rot .
Monitor wet requirements of newly - planted trees . In general , it assume 2 to 3 years or more for a Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree to become established in the landscape . Adequate moisture is particularly critical during this catamenia to encourage hefty root development beyond the original theme chunk . In the absence seizure of good soaking rains , provide supplemental water , specially as daytime temperatures grow hotter . extend the integral arena under the tree diagram canopy to keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy around the etymon ball and surrounding soil .
Prune spring - flowering shrubsafter they end blooming . If you put off doing this until later , you lean the risk of cut off the bud for next twelvemonth ’s blooms . Virginia Cooperative Extension ( Va. Coop . Ext ) Publication 426 - 701,Shrubs : Functions , Planting , and Maintenance , provide steering on the best fourth dimension of class to prune shrubs .
Lightlyfertilize azaleas and rhododendronsafter they finish bloom if a dirt mental test indicates that nutrient in the soil are low . Use a fertilizer that is particularly formulated for acid - get it on plants and follow the directions cautiously . thinly scatter the fertilizer at the edge of the root zone . Azaleas have finespun root that are unaired to the soil Earth’s surface and can be easily burned by surplus plant food . Too much plant food may also cause scorched leafage margins .
Finish acclimatise your houseplants to the outdoorsby gradually increase their exposure to sunshine . supervise them carefully so that they do n’t become sunburned . check that each heap has a drainage hole . Lack of good drainage is an invitation for radical bunk .
Experiment with container gardeningif you ’ve never tried it before . For best results , keep in mind the “ thriller , filler , trotline ” concept : plant something tall as a focal point , something mid - size to fill in around the “ thriller , ” and something humiliated that Cascade Mountains over the brim of the pot and softens the overall burden . Just remember to keep container gardens well irrigate over the raise season .
Incorporate pollinator - well-disposed plant mintage thatattract bees , flies , butterflies and other pollinating insects to your ornamental garden . flower with single petals rather than double petals are generally a better option . Echinacea ( cone flower ) and zinnias are examples of plants that have undergo significant upbringing for full , splashy prime . While they proffer more diverseness and zing for the garden , the downside is that such rearing endeavour affect the prime ’s ability to produce pollen . In edict to produce twofold flowers , the stamen ( male portion of the heyday ) are bred to transform into extra petals . Because of this modification to the basic shape of the flower , the blossom may not produce as much pollen as a flower having single flower petal .
Replace mulch with ground cover in your landscape . Mulch is utilitarian in holding wet in the soil , control soil temperature , prevent erosion , and controlling weed . However , in certain situations , such as under trees where pasture shin to grow in the shade , a living flat coat cover rather of mulch may be a more virtual solvent . Like mulch , ground cover shade off the soil , oblige it in spot , and smother weeds . On top of the pragmatic aspects of ground covers , they summate an attractive layer of vividness and grain in the landscape . Consider planting native ground covers such as : uncivilized powdered ginger ( Asarum canadense ) , green and Au ( Chrysogonum virginianum ) , Allegheny spurge ( Pachysandra recumbens ) , foamflower ( Tiarella cordifolia ) , depressed - eyed sess ( genus Sisyrinchium angustifolium ) , and grovel phlox ( Phlox stolonifera ) .
Monitor your prized plantings for pestsof all kinds – creeping , crawl , flying , etc . Here are a few to be on the warning signal for in May :
Bad bugs get all the public press but there are far more good bug than bad , admit :
Syrphid Fly ( Sphaerophoria philanthus ) – Syrphid flies ( also called hover fly or flower flies ) serve two-fold duty as both pollinators of a wide variety of plant and piranha of other insect . These modest blackened and jaundiced - striped insects evaluate less than ½ column inch long and are often false for bees or wasps . However , Syrphid rainfly do n’t have stinger and , like all fly species , they have only one pair of wing , whereas bee and wasp have two pair . In their adult form , syrphid flies feed only on pollen , nectar and aphid honeydew and do not prey on other worm . As larvae , they are extremely effective natural enemies of aphid , plate , thrips , and other soft - corporate , slow - move worm specie . Just one larva can run through one C of aphids . For photos of both the adult and larval forms of this beneficial insect , see North Carolina State University Extension ’s issue onSyrphid fly front .
Take pre-emptive step to keep deer out of the garden . As beautiful as cervid are , they can do a devastating amount of damage to plants that are just emerging or leafing out . A tall fence or other physical roadblock is the most effective agency to keep deer out of your garden . If a fence is out of the dubiousness , then try growing plants with strong scents ( such as herbs ) , tough or leathery leafage , and spiky or briary leafage . Confuse deer by tuck vulnerable plants in among industrial plant they normally ostracise . Use repellents that either smell or smack bad to deer . Repellents that have a sulphur - based odor of rotten eggs seem to be more effectual than taste - establish 1 but alternate their consumption so that the deer do n’t become accustomed to them . To instruct more about cervid and strategies for living with them , see Garden Shed articleDeer , Deer , Deer ! , which provides lots of heavy information on the guinea pig .
Invasive Alert : Spring rains make the soil moist and prosperous to work in , which defecate conditions ideal for homeowners tohand pull small , youthful sprouts of invasive plants . To control these species , it ’s important to absent all parts of the rootage so that the plant can not regrow . Look for the following species : English Hedera helix ( Hedera spiral ) , climbing euonymous ( Euonymous fortunei ) , Japanese Banksia integrifolia ( Lonicera japonica ) , Oriental bittersweet ( Celastrus orbiculatus ) , Japanese barberry ( Berberis thunbergia ) , autumn olive ( Eleagnus umbellata ) , wineberry ( Rubus phoenicolasius ) , and garlic mustard ( Alliaria petiolata ) . chew the fat the Blue Ridge PRISM ( Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management ) website forfactsheetson each of these species , including photos and control condition choice .
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Featured Photo : Cathy Caldwell
Monthly Gardening Tips , Piedmont Master Gardeners / Gardening Resources / May
